Device for removing corn from the cob



June 9,1942- A. BQcARRoLL I 2,285,567 l DEVICE FOR REMOVING CORN FROM` THE COB Filed Dec. 31, 1940 IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 9, 1.942

B. Carroll, Norfolk, Va. Application December 3l, 1940, Serial No. 372.644

Claims.

My invention relates to devices for cutting Ere'en or cooked cornv from the cob and/or for v thereafter scraping the cob to remove those portions of the kernels which adhere to the cob afterv the cutting operation.

With the foregoing in view, an object of my invention is to provide a corn cutter wherein the 'blades are readily formed, applied to or removed from the cutter by the operator.

A further object is to provide in such acutter, means for quickly adjusting the depth of cut of e cutting blades by the operation in accordance with the type of cut desired.

parts and referring particularly to the'form of invention illustrated in Figs.- 1-7, inclusive, I2

' designates the body of my cutter which -is generally semi-cylindrical in shape with a rounded back I3 adapted to be gripped by the hand of the user. The forward end ofthe face of the body I2 is formed with a semi-cylindricalgroove I4 which is intended to conform generally to the shape of an ear of corn. The rear end of the face of thebody I2 is hollowed out as at Ii and is` connected to the rear 'end of the groove I 4 by an inclined abutment wall I5. The rear end of e A further object is to provide means whereby the depth of cut can be varied during an actual cutting stroke.

A further object is to provide a novel combination of green or boiled corn cutter with a scraper for the cob.

A further object is to provide a novel cutter blade for such'a device.

A further object 'is to provide novel mounting means for a cutter blade.

A further object is to provide a novel cob scraper.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the device, combination and arrangement of the several parts and in the particular mode of operation. all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing in connection with the following detailed description wherein the invention is described and claimed;

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan' view `of one'fcrm of the.

invention;

Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section thereof showing the device ln'use:

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical section on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4p is a like view taken on the plane o! the line 4-4 ofFig. 2

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section oi' a detail;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section showing a portionofFig.2;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section-on the plane of the line 'l-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in vertical section of a detail of a modification;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary Avertical section of a detail of the modification; and

Fig. lil`v is a fragmentary, transverse vertical In the drawing. wherein like reference characthe hollow portion I8 is partially closed by an end wall Il, the outer or free edge of which is formed to provide a concave scraping edge I8 which conforms generally with the curvature of the groove I4- and which may be, and preferably is. in regisfter with said groove I4.

A radial bore I9 extends through the body I2 from the end of the 'groove which is adjacent the abutment wall I6 and opens into an enlarged recess 2l formed in the back I3l of the body I2. A stem 2l isi'reely'slidable in the bore I9 and is provided with an enlarged head 22 which is receivable in the recess 20. Theinner end of the stem2I is also'provided with an enlarged head 23 which will be described in detail presently.

ters have been used throughout te designate like as Either the head 22, the head 22 or bothmay be detachably secured to the stem 2| in any suitable A manner (not shown) A pair of like bosses 24 are formed on the free edges of the groove I4 adjacent the rear end thereof but forwardly of the bore I8. The 24 are oppositely disposed with'respect to each other and each is provided with a like slot 2l which is formed in the front and inner faces of each boss 24. The slots 25 each receive the outer end of a flexible cutting blade 2B. The blades 2i, it should be noted, may be readily formed by snapping an ordinary flexible, double-odg d razor blade inhalf longitudinally. Obviously, n especially manufactured blade or blades be usedifdesired. Theinnerendsoftheblades 2l are lapped and inserted Ainto a forwardly facing and substantially V-shaped slot 2l (Fig. 7) which is formed in the inner head 22 of the stem 2|. The blades 2B are arranged in vshape mg. 1) but are flexed to conform substantially to the curvature of the groove I4 (Fig. 4).

Theslots 25inthe24andtheslot2'l in the head 23 are sized 'for a frictional iit with the blades 28 and flexing of the blades tensions them and tends to tighten the frictional iit in the slots whereby the blades are retained in position at all times. The device is operated for cutting in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2 which movement forces the blades 26 against the closed back walls of the slots 25 and 21. The inner, rear corners of the blades 26 (Fig. 7) bear against the apex of the slot 21 whereby endwise movement of the blades in an inward direction is prevented. Outward endwise movement in an inward direction of the blades 26 is prevented by the fact that the slots 25 do not extend all of the way through the bosses 24 (Figs. 4 and 5).

At the same time, should the blades become dull, they may be readily removed by being slid out of the slots 25 and 21 in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2. Obviously, a single V-shaped blade could be used if desired.-

The device is used as is shown in Fig. 2, by being tted over an ear ofcorn and moved longitudinally thereof in the direction of the arrow.

prising a body, a substantially semi-cylindrical When all of the grains are cut from the cob, the

cob can be scraped by merely depressing thev rear end of the device slightly to bring the scraper edge I8 into contact with the cob. 'I'his can `be done without changing the users grip on the tool if the tool is positioned in the hand with the front end (the right end in Figs. 1 and 2) in the palm and the device is drawn toward the user. When gripped in this manner, the depth of cut can be controlled by placing the forenger on the head 22 of the stem 2| and depressing the same slightly. Thus, the smaller grains at one end of the ear can be operated upon with the -blades in theiry normal position vand the larger grains at the other end of the ear can be severed by progressively increasing the pressure on the head 22 as the device is drawnalong the ear. The inherent resiliency of the blades 26 and vspring 22a in recess 20 normally maintain the stem 2| and head 22 projected as shown. The hollow portion vI6 behind the blades 26 provides a chamber in which the cut grains are received after they are cut. i

The modification of Figs. y8, 9 and 10 is -substantially the same as the rst described form of the invention except for the manner in which the blades are attached. In the modification, the body ||2 has a groove ||4 corresponding to the groove I4, bosses |24 corresponding to the bosses groove formed in one face of the body at one end thereof, at least one cutting blade arranged across said groove, said blade being curved to be substantially concentric to the curvature of said groove and being spaced from the floor thereof, a scraping blade for a cob formed across said face at the other end of said body, said scraping blade having a curved scraping edge conforming substantially in curvature to the curvature of said groove and being in substantial registry with said groove, opposed bosses formed in said groove. opposed tapped holes in said bosses, end portions of said blade being provided with holes, and screws adapted to be passed through said holes in said blade and to be received in said holes in said bosses to connect said blade to said body.

2. A device for cutting corn from a cob, com

prising a body, a substantially semi-cylindrical groove formed in one face of said body, a V

shaped cutting blade arranged transversely across said groove in spaced and substantially concentric relation to the floor thereof, means detachably connecting said .blade to said body, means 24 and a radially bore ||9 and recess |20 correl sponding to the bore I9 and recess 20. |2| is movable through the bore ||9 and is provided with outer andeinner heads |22 and |23, A

respectively. 'I'he head |23 is tapped to receive a screw 3| and the opposed faces of the bosses |24 are similarly -tapped to receive screws |30.

vThe blades |26 are formed with holes at their A Figs. 1-7.

While I have4 shown and described what are now thought to be the preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, it is not my intention to limit myself to the precise structures shown and described, except `as hereinafter claimed.

I'claim:

A stem v 1. A device for cutting corn from a cob, com- 'centrally thereof, a slot in one face for adjusting the depth of cut of said blade, said means being engaged with the apex of said blade to support the same, and means'for operating said adjusting means from the opposite face of said body from said groove during a cutting operation.

3. A device'for cutting corn from a cob, comprising a body, a substantially semi-cylindrical groove formed vin one face of said body, a curved cutting blade arranged transversely of said groove in spaced relation to the oor thereof, means` connecting the ends of said blade to said body, means for adjusting the depth of cut of said blade, said adjusting means being engageable with an intermediate portion of said blade, and means for operating said adjusting means from the opposite face of said body from said groove during a cutting operation.

4. A device for cutting corn from a cob, comprising a body, a substantially semi-cylindrical groove formed in one face of said body, a pair of cutting blades larranged end to end across said groove in a V-shaped arrangementand in spaced relation to the floor of said groove separate means connecting the outer end of each blade to said body, and a single means connecting the inner ends of both blades to said body.

5. The structure of claim 4, said last named means being movable to vary the depth of cut of both blades simultaneously, and means for operating said movable means from the opposite face of said body from said groove during a cutting stroke.

6. A device for cutting corn from a cob, comprising ajbody, a substantially semi-cylindrical groove formed in one face of said body, a pair of tensioned cutting blades arranged end to end across said groove in a V-shaped arrangement and in spaced and substantially concentric relation to the floor of said groove, a pair of opposed bosses formed on opposite edge portions thereof, a slot in each boss, an outer end of each blade beingfrictionally received in each slot, a member projecting above the floor of said groove of said member, the inner ends of ,said blades being frictionally received in said last named slot.

7. A device for cutting corn from a cob, comprising a body, a substantially semi-cylindrical groove formed in one face of said body, a pair of tensioned cutting blades arranged end to end across said groove in a V-shaped arrangement and in spaced and substantially concentric relation to the floor of said groove, a pair of opposed bosses formed on opposite edge portions thereof, threaded means lconnecting the outer end of each blade to one\ of said bosses, a member projecting above the iioor of said groove centrally thereof,

and a single threaded means connecting the inner ends of both blades to said member. e v 8. The structure of claim 6, said slot in said member being V-shaped to prevent endwise movement ofthe inner ends of said blades in a direcprising-a bodyl a substantially semi-cylindrical groove-formed in one face of the body at one end thereof, at least one cutting blade arranged across `said groove, said blade being curved to be substantially concentric to the curvature of said groove and being spaced from the oor thereof, a scraping blade for a cob formedacross said face at the other end of said body, said scraping blade having a. curved scraping edge conforming substantially in curvature to the curvature of said groove and being in substantial registry with said groove, opposed bosses formed in said groove, opposed ltapped holes in said bosses, end portions of said blade being provided with holes, and screws adapted' to be passed through saidholes in said blade and to be received in said holes in said bosses to connect said blade to. said body.

, ARTHUR B. CARROLL. 

